Amid ongoing investigations by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) into welding fume and metalworking exposure at engineering premises, leading Birmingham-based testing, inspection, and certification firm Bureau Veritas is urging businesses to control and manage exposure risk or face possible enforcement action, particularly local exhaust ventilation (LEV) processes and use of respiratory protective equipment (RPE).

Earlier this year, the HSE revealed its plans to inspect engineering firms between May and September with the primary focus on identifying any risks to lung health as a result of welding fume exposure. However, inspections will also highlight other areas of concern when it comes to the Covid-secure measures being implemented.

Last year in the UK alone, around 12,000 people died from lung diseases estimated to be linked to past exposure. Over exposure to welding fumes and metalworking fluids over a long period can cause workers to develop conditions including occupation asthma and hypersensitive pneumonitis, a serious and irreversible respiratory illness.

Harmful fumes and gases
Joe Marais, Bureau Veritas engineering team leader (occupational hygiene and storage equipment), said: “Welding fume and metalworking fluid exposure can pose a number of risks to employees in the engineering environment, from the potentially harmful fumes and gases emitted during the welding process.

“The risks to an employee’s health from these exposures can, in many cases, be prevented or at least adequately controlled. LEV is an engineering control used to reduce the risk of inhalation of hazardous substances – this system is essential to protect health where welding is carried out indoors, and must be properly designed, installed, commissioned, tested and maintained in order to be effective.”

He continued: “Meanwhile, where risk cannot be adequately controlled from LEV alone, or if it is not reasonably practicable to provide LEV (for example working outdoors), firms must provide workers with suitable RPE, such as tight-fitting disposable masks or battery-powered air-fed protective equipment.

“In preparation for HSE inspections, another key measure is workplace air monitoring assessments. These can provide the invaluable data and insight required to control exposure to welding fumes and metalworking fluids.”

Following a recent HSE inspection of a manufacturing site, an Inspector identified that a paint spray booth was being used to control isocyanate-contained paints, which can by toxic by inhalation.

The LEV Thorough Examination and Test (TExT) report for the booth did not meet COSHH requirements – and the service provider that undertook the report did not have relevant qualifications in relation to conducting a TExT on LEV systems.

Enforcement action was taken against both the service provider in relation to their lack of competence, and against the site’s dutyholder to ensure that a competent person was appointed to perform an accurate TExT.

Risk assessments
Mr Marais continued: “It is vital that when it comes to controlling and managing welding fume and metal-working fluid exposure, that a competent person is employed to undertake risk assessments, strategies and reporting. This is someone with the relevant qualifications, insight and experience to carry out such investigations and analyses.

“There is no ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach when it comes to having a robust occupational hygiene programme, and we have worked with engineering firms in the automotive sector where, after a workplace air-monitoring survey, we were able to tighten their compliance procedures by giving advice on how to use existing exposure control measures more effectively, such as LEVs.

“We would encourage manufacturers to review their existing occupational hygiene programme to ensure it goes beyond simple compliance and includes a continuous improvement action plan to reduce the risks to employee health from exposure to hazardous substances.”

With an experienced network of occupational hygiene consultants operating nationwide, Bureau Veritas offers a wide range of expert, independent occupational hygiene services to help achieve and maintain safety in the workplace, whilst meeting the requirements of all relevant regulations.

The leading occupational hygiene expert is also hosting a webinar on Tuesday 15 June, which will cover welding fume and metalworking fluid exposure, the statutory requirements, determining exposure levels and controlling exposure.

To register to join the webinar click here.